6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Where we are?

The three main diseases that the government considers critical are HIV/AIDS, malaria (including dengue) and tuberculosis. The targets are as below:

Decrease the prevalence of HIV/AIDS to 0.4% in the adult population

Decrease the prevalence of malaria and dengue to 0.8% in the population

Decrease the prevalence of tuberculosis to 626 per 100,000 population

The NHDR of Cambodia for 2002, which focused on HIV/AIDS, painted a fairly grim picture of the spread of the disease. This has considerably declined in the last decade, it being in the range 0.7% among adults aged 15-49 years. Malaria and dengue too are under control now compared to the earlier years. Fatality from dengue was small at 0.30% in the population in 2010 and from malaria at about 1%. Next, between June 2009 and September 2010, there were 760 cases of A(H1N1) infection reported; tragically, six succumbed. Efforts to control germ/bacteria-carried diseases require a sustained effort. Tuberculosis (TB), however, has not shown much reduction in its incidence. The earlier target was to reduce prevalence of TB to 464 per 100,000 populations, which had to be revised upwards. Whether the new targets will be met depends much upon how the programmes are intensified and how poverty and malnutrition get alleviated. The government needs more resources to expand the physical infrastructure and medical facilities, and upgrade medical technology for promoting prevention. Trained human power and reach-out too are necessities.

Statement on Cambodia MDG6

HIV/AIDS and malaria are well under control, though there are issues in TB control.